‘Mr Asia’ witnesses

Press, 18 April 1980, Page 4

‘Mr Asia’ witnesses

NZPA London Solicitors for a former Auckland resident, Andrew Maher, have listed 17 witnesses they want called in the committal proceedings for. the “Mr Asia” drugs murder case. • '. Maher, aged 26, who ks charged with the murder of Christopher Martin Johnstone, conspiring to murder him, and conspiring against Britain’s drug laws, is the only one of the 12 accused Iso far to indicate that he will fcall witnesses for the comSittal. which will start on ay 19. . ... The decision overturns police predictions that the charges would heft- be congested at the committal Stage. The list of witnesses, read Jn the Magistrate’s Court at Ghorley yesterday, includes

Maher’-s de facto wife, Barbara Pilkington, and . Julie Hue, Johnstone’s girlfriend. Counsel for four other <**- fendants —James Smith, aged 27; Keith Kirby, aged 26; Kingsley Fagan, aged 26; and Christopher Blackman, aged 35 —told the Court they would not call witnesses at the committal. * . Smith and Kirby face the same charges as Maher, with a New Zealander, Alexander Sinclair, 'aged 34. Fagan and Blackman . are charged with drugs conspiracy only, with the two New Zealanders, Karen Soich, and Erroll Hincksman, and the three remaining defendants, Leila Barclay, aged 48, her son, Jack Barclay aged 26, and Sylvester Pidgeon aged 40, who was charged earlier this month. The three New Zealanders

and the two Barclays are represented by a London solicitor, Mr Harry Stevens, who yesterday said it would still be at least a week before he decided his tactics for the committal. The clerk of the court (Mr R. Garner) said after yesterday’s hearing which was the normal weekly remand for all 12 accused, that he had been given no indication that any of the accused would seek a separate committal hearing.

All counsel yesterday said they would not ask for the reporting restrictions to be lifted. The restrictions, which can be lifted at the committal stage at the- request of any of the accused, prevent virtually all reporting of the proceedings within the United Kingdom until the case comes to full trial.